I've had a look at my yacht and had a sudden brain wave. I should be able to fit a rear bike shock into the tube in front of the mast step. Where there is currently a bit of old rubber which presumably did a less effective job* to the one Im thinking about. If you follow the nose wheel tube back into the cock pit it terminates by being bolted through a cuff which is welded to a bar . I can cut this off put a U bracket there with some bearings and in the same way bolt it back together. Allowing the same system as AUS720 but with the shock in the mast step tube.
*I currently have this rubber dampening system bolted down tight as all the rubber is perished. It might be one of the reasons I get quite a of sail shake. Not knowing how this was originally set up means I don't know if it was bolted down or allowed to float? You can see it here:
you have the same setup as most of the french yachts,it is supposed to float up and down on the front bolt the rear rubber takes the shock. replace these and it should work great.
Pic of a yacht that I started with similar setup(get it finished one day)
Ahh... Thanks for that. Mine has a bolt that allows me to lock it up. Im now thinking for sailing on runways and such like. Do you know what your rubber shock was in its normal life?
